Topic : Ending Toxic Friendships

my2, 

Please read what I wrote.  I don't seem to know how to operate this forum.  Good Luck, TexMess  

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN LIFE!  Toxic is toxic, be it something we ingest or people who use other people in destructive ways.  This gal deserve to play "Tar Baby" with a certified loser!!  Use this experience as your move forward with your life. 

This is my little story and I am posting it here for anyone else who has the same problem and needs encouragement.  

I was best friends for a girl for nearly eight years. We did everything together. People even called us 'twins' because we were together so much. She had many problems such as borderline anorexia and depression. She was on the verge of suicide. I did my best to help her and I even invited her to church with me. She would have none of it. She had very low self-esteem and always tried to bring me down by insulting me or any other means. It got to the point though, where I would start to become depressed. I started thinking like her. Suicidal thoughts began to enter my head. It took me a long time to realize that, 'Hey, I can't save the world and I am only hurting myself by staying friends with her.' It's hard to end a friendship like that and I still think about her a lot, but be careful that you don't let them start to suck you down. Sometimes it's better to just let go of the friendship. 

I'm sorry that you had to end a long time friendship.  My daughter is about your age and had to do the same thing, with a friend of 10 years.  I think you figured out that you can't save her from herself.  My daughter's TF has become even more self destructive than she was when my daughter quit her.  My daughter's mood was also effected by her friend.  I was beginning to worry about my daughter because she was acting out and doing some of the risky behavior like her TF.  I was becoming concerned.  They moved in together after high school.  The second day they were in the house, her friend got stoned, with the electrician that was there to repair the lights and she slept with him.  I told my daughter, you need to be careful because she could invite an ax murder in for a sleep over.  The girl had bad judgment and she was not getting any better.  Since this Summer, the FT has miscarried, planned and canceled a marriage and has a couple of live in boyfriends.   Revolving door.  It's sad but you don't need the drama.   

Good Luck and Happy Friend Hunting. 

legalgirl, 

She is a TF because she is so draining.  I don't know if you should give up on her yet.  Sounds like she is stuck in a bad place.  2 years seems like a long time.  Have you ever suggested counseling to her?  You can always talk to her about what she is doing.  Maybe she doesn't realize she is dragging you down, with her despair or that the X is all she talks about.  Sounds like she is throwing herself one heck of a pity party.  I would let her know that you want the old her back, before all the divorce battle scars.  Doesn't sound like she feels good about herself.  You might try setting a boundary and you might have to keep reinforcing it, until she grasp it.  Invite her to go do something you know she likes to do and let her know nicely that you don't want to talk about the X because it's a get away from your troubles day.  Maybe, if you just break the cycle with her, she will have to give up the drama, heal and get on with her life.  Let her know the X is getting in the middle of your relationship, which you value.  Make a deal with her, tell her you wont bring up (what ever is bothering you) and she can't bring up the X.  If that doesn't work, you might let her know she is hanging on to him bitterly.  Maybe she needs to go yell at and smack the heck out of something that can take a beating, like a punching bag and she should call it the X.    Good Luck 

Your friend went through a bad divorce and now you say that she has a different personality. She is negative and it feels as though she is dragging you down with her.. that isn't healthy. Its healthy to be supportive and encouraging, but you are also supposed to receive those things back in a friendship. If this friend is sucking the life out of you... its time to put some distance between yourself and her. Give yourself some time. Sometimes people grow apart, but sometimes friendships just need breaks, too. Perhaps your friend will realize that you have been a good influencing factor and she'll start coming around again or calling.  

Legalgal, 

You're welcome.  You may not be able to salvage the relationship and you can end it knowing that you gave it your best shot and that the ball is in her court.  She may have to come to healing all on her own and it may take her a long time.  I had a friend tell me, when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change, you will change.  Your friend must have a high pain tolerance.  I hope it works out for you.           Good Luck, TexMess 

This is my first post.  I hope I do everything OK. 

I put friend in quotes because I can't really say this person is a friend, yet, or if we can really be friends.  I sure could use some advice, because I am feeling pretty crummy about this. 

I felt like this lady was Heaven sent, when I met her about 3 months ago.  I had just lost my neighbor, who always cared for my animals and plants when I travel.  This new lady lives very near me, is a retired veterinary assistant, and when I met her I thought "wonderful" - she's a nice lady, I can't have too many friends and maybe I could get her to watch my animals, when I travel.   

I asked her right out, within an hour of meeting her, if she would be interested in caring for my animals, and told her I would pay her and what I had always paid my neighbor.  She agreed, and said she'd be happy to do it anytime.  I wish I had left it at that, but instead, I tried to cultivate a friendship with her, and it is not working out.  Not for me, anyway. 

We have next to nothing in common, but that isn't the biggest problem.  The biggest problem is our  lifestyles conflict.  She stays up nearly all night, and sleeps until at least noon (usually later) - I am an early riser and by the time she gets up for the day, I am down for my daily nap/rest.  When I get up from my rest/nap, I do any chores, that I have left undone, fix my dinner and then get on my computer (I have a volunteer job, online, which admittedly takes up too much of my time, but I love it).  I am on the computer, unless I have a social engagement, until it's time for me to go to bed. 

I guess what it all boils down to, is I have no time to be friends with her.  I put forth the effort before I knew about her habits, and we have had a few awkward moments, like when I woke her at 9:00 am, and she woke me from my nap a couple times (not a good idea lol) and by the time we learned of each other's lifestyles, I felt like if I didn't try to continue with the friendship, she would think, and I would feel like, I was just using her to care for my animals.  Plus she IS a very nice lady. I'd hate to hurt her, but I really resent it when she calls and wants to come over to visit, or just wants to yap on the phone for a while, when all I want to do is work on my computer.   When she comes over and interrupts my compter time, it means I am up until all hours, trying to catch up with the work I didn't get done because we were visiting. 

What in the world am I going to do?  I have one animal that is diabetic and needs injections twice a day.  There are any number of people who would be happy to see that they are fed and cared for, but finding someone willing and capable of giving shots is not all that easy.  I'm afraid if I start blowing her off, she will no longer be willing to care for my animals and I travel quite a bit.  All of my children live away and I go to visit at least one of them, every month and am gone for 4 - 6 days.  Boarding my pets is cost prohibitive, not to mention a hassle. and very traumatic for them. 

Any suggestions?